Plantar Fascial Tears: What You Need to Know

Not many people know what plantar fasciitis is or how painful it can be. It’s what Peyton Manning was suffering from in 2015 after an injury during a game. Although professional athletes frequently suffer from the ailment, it’s a lot more common for regular people than you may think. Keep reading to learn about plantar fascial tears.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the fascia, a band of connective tissue in the foot, becomes inflamed after extreme stress on the area. The fascia connects the heel bone to the toe bones, so its function is essential to walking, standing, and many other movements. Plantar fasciitis can lead to partial or even full tears of the fascia tissue.

Who Gets Plantar Fasciitis?

Almost anyone can have plantar fasciitis. If you put any type of stress on your feet, then you’re susceptible to this condition. We frequently hear about this condition affecting professional athletes. Football players or bike riders put the most stress on their feet. “Flat-footed” people are also more susceptible to the plantar fasciitis. The role of your foot’s arch is to absorb some of the shock that occurs while walking or running. Your arch can do this because of the tension that the fascia creates. Without an arch, the fascia has to do more work and may become inflamed.

What Are the Signs of a Torn Fascia?

It’s important to know when your fascia has been torn because the best treatment is to allow the tissue to heal. If you don’t know it’s torn, you could possibly damage it beyond repair. Here are a few sign that you’ve torn your fascia:

How Do You Treat This Condition?

Treatment depends on what, exactly, is going on with the patient’s plantar fascia.

If the plantar fascia is torn, then immobilization of the foot is required to allow it to heal. If there is no rupture or tear of the plantar fascia and the pain is from inflammation, that is called plantar fasciitis, and that can be treated with an injection as well as orthotic inserts, changes in activities, ice, etc.

Ask your podiatrist what he or she recommends for your specific condition.

Foot Specialists of Birmingham

If feel like you’re experiencing pain because of plantar fasciitis or any other foot problems, contact us today. We can help you choose the best treatment option for you.